plural harbors
1
: a place of security and comfort : refuge
the … Loyalists found harbor in the same areas—
W. G. Hardy
W. G. Hardy2
: a part of a body of water protected and deep enough to furnish anchorage
a yacht harbor
especially
: one with port facilities
harbored; harboring
ˈhär-b(ə-)riŋ 
; harbors
; harbors
1
a
: to give shelter or refuge to
harboring a fugitive
b
: to be the home or habitat of
The ledges still harbor rattlesnakes.
2
: to hold especially persistently in the mind : cherish
harbored a grudge
1
: to take shelter in or as if in a harbor
ships harboring in the bay
2
: live
parasites that harbor in the blood
Synonyms
Examples of harbor in a Sentence
Noun
the tanker stayed in Boston harbor three days to undergo repairs
seeking a harbor from the drenching rain, we unfortunately chose a bank where a robbery was taking place
Verb
It is illegal to harbor an escaped convict.
He still harbors deep feelings of resentment toward his former employer.
I don't harbor any illusions about our chances for success.
She studies the genetic material harbored in a cell's nucleus.
Some of these animals may harbor disease that could affect humans.
Recent Examples on the WebPatt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Statistically, the experts said, such failures are more likely to happen in ports and harbors, as well as in close proximity to bridges, because that’s when the ships are under the most stress.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Soon, white spray was shooting off both sides of the barge as the tug chugged through the water, pushing a thousand tons of rotting cargo across the harbor.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The Go City All-Inclusive Pass can be used for top attractions such as the San Diego Zoo, Legoland California, harbor cruises, and several museums in Balboa Park, providing you with discounts of up to 50 percent per person.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2024
More curious still, some countries in Africa and Europe provided safe harbor to the killers, many of whom remain at large today.
—Jonathan M. Hansen, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024
The same is true for a show that could have ended on a high — or constructed a story that kept its two friends in safe harbor, rather than blowing up its premise and going on a whole new adventure.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024
The 13 or so ships trapped in the harbor will sit idle for weeks.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 31 Mar. 2024
There are seven other ships in the harbor whose crews remain on board, the Rev. Joshua Messick told USA Today.
—Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Chris Willman, Variety, 31 Mar. 2024
Constantly wowed in practice, his female counterparts harbor no such doubts.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Nataraj Panicker unlocks the gate to a grove harboring a serpent shrine in Pandalam, India.
—Pragathi Ravi, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Mar. 2024
Israeli forces say hospitals in the Palestinian enclave where war has been raging for over five months have frequently been used as strongholds of Hamas militants harboring bases and weapons.
—Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2024
More accessible chambers harbor other histories: an Incan vase filled with gold coins, shards of a Spanish olive jar stained with the oldest wine in the Americas.
—Carina Del Valle Schorske, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024
An independent panel of experts voted 8-6 in favor of approving the Duchenne therapy, though some who voted yes still harbored doubts.
—Daniel Gilbert, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024
The ban is a long-shot effort by lawmakers who harbor some (arguably overwrought) concerns about Americans’ data security winding up in the hands of Chinese spy agencies.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024
Pakistani officials have blamed militants harbored on Afghan soil and protected by the Taliban administration for the attacks.
—Zia Ur-Rehman, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024
Noun
He had been arrested in May 1863 and forced to walk hobbled by ball and chain from central L.A. to the Drum Barracks at the harbor.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Statistically, the experts said, such failures are more likely to happen in ports and harbors, as well as in close proximity to bridges, because that’s when the ships are under the most stress.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Soon, white spray was shooting off both sides of the barge as the tug chugged through the water, pushing a thousand tons of rotting cargo across the harbor.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The Go City All-Inclusive Pass can be used for top attractions such as the San Diego Zoo, Legoland California, harbor cruises, and several museums in Balboa Park, providing you with discounts of up to 50 percent per person.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2024
More curious still, some countries in Africa and Europe provided safe harbor to the killers, many of whom remain at large today.
—Jonathan M. Hansen, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024
The same is true for a show that could have ended on a high — or constructed a story that kept its two friends in safe harbor, rather than blowing up its premise and going on a whole new adventure.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024
The 13 or so ships trapped in the harbor will sit idle for weeks.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 31 Mar. 2024
There are seven other ships in the harbor whose crews remain on board, the Rev. Joshua Messick told USA Today.
—Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
A lot of people who enjoyed that tour would harbor more doubts now about whether to buy tickets for a Waters show … so what a pleasure to have another shot at hearing their vocals on the signature Pink Floyd number, with Dawes’ Taylor Goldsmith as the officiant.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 31 Mar. 2024
Constantly wowed in practice, his female counterparts harbor no such doubts.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Nataraj Panicker unlocks the gate to a grove harboring a serpent shrine in Pandalam, India.
—Pragathi Ravi, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Mar. 2024
Israeli forces say hospitals in the Palestinian enclave where war has been raging for over five months have frequently been used as strongholds of Hamas militants harboring bases and weapons.
—Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2024
More accessible chambers harbor other histories: an Incan vase filled with gold coins, shards of a Spanish olive jar stained with the oldest wine in the Americas.
—Carina Del Valle Schorske, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024
An independent panel of experts voted 8-6 in favor of approving the Duchenne therapy, though some who voted yes still harbored doubts.
—Daniel Gilbert, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024
The ban is a long-shot effort by lawmakers who harbor some (arguably overwrought) concerns about Americans’ data security winding up in the hands of Chinese spy agencies.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024
Pakistani officials have blamed militants harbored on Afghan soil and protected by the Taliban administration for the attacks.
—Zia Ur-Rehman, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'harbor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near harbor
Cite this Entry
“Harbor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harbor. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
harbor
2 of 2 verb
harbored; harboring
-b(ə-)riŋ
1
: to give shelter to
harbor an escaped convict
2
: to hold a thought or feeling of
harbor a grudge
3
: to take shelter in or as if in a harbor
harborer
noun
Medical Definition
harbor
transitive verb
har·bor
ˈhär-bər
: to contain or be the home, habitat, or host of
those who harbor the gene for the illness—William Booth
William Boothgreen monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) may have harbored the ancestor of the AIDS virus—R. C. Gallo
R. C. GalloLove words? Need even more definitions?
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